Routledge The Literary Quest for an American National Character

Explore the evolution of the American identity through this scholarly work from Routledge. This book examines the question, "What then is the American, this new man?" by analyzing a sequence of imaginative authors who faced major turning points in the development of the nation. From the era of Crevecoeur and the Revolution to the time of Washington Irving and Jeffersonian Democracy, the text follows the progression of American thought. It also covers James Fenimore Cooper and the Era of Good Feelings. The narrative looks at the tension between those who believed national perfection had been reached and those who saw the complexities and challenges facing the growing country. This volume is part of the Routledge Transnational Perspectives on American Literature series, making it a valuable addition for students and readers interested in literary theory, history, and the development of American national character.